Woman with diabetes reaches out to kids

Amy Soileau, of Port Orange, is the outreach director of Florida Diabetes Camp.

News-Journal/DAVID TUCKER

LACY McLAUGHLINSTAFF WRITER

Published: Monday, March 25, 2013 at 5:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, March 25, 2013 at 1:09 p.m.

It was at a Florida Diabetes Camp where Amy Soileau learned how to test her own insulin levels and met other children living with type 1 diabetes. Now, 35 years later, Soileau reaches out to families and children who also come to the camp each year.

Facts

WHO: Amy Soileau

AGE: 40

OCCUPATION: Outreach Director of Florida Diabetes Camp

RESIDENCE: Port Orange

About This Feature

Fitness & Well-Being Spotlight is a weekly feature profiling area residents who have made healthy habits a priority in their lives, or those dedicated to helping others make healthy lifestyle changes. If you would like to nominate someone for a profile, email lacey.mclaughlin@news-jrnl.com

The Port Orange native was diagnosed with diabetes at 3 years old and started going to the Florida Diabetes Camps in Central Florida at 5. Eventually she graduated to camp counselor and volunteer but it wasn't until last year that the former schoolteacher became the camp's outreach director.

In that position, Soileau helps local families and children find education, community and support after a type 1 diabetes diagnosis. The 2013 summer camps are held throughout Central Florida, including Volusia Flagler Family YMCA's Camp Winona in DeLeon Springs, and are open to children 6 through 18 with type 1 diabetes. For more information and to apply to the camps, visit Floridadiabetescamp.org.

Q: How were you diagnosed with diabetes?

I was 3 years old. It was in June right before my fourth birthday. My mom noticed I was drinking a lot and going to be the bathroom a lot. She took me to the pediatrician. I was tested and spent a few days in the hospital.

Q: How did having diabetes affect your childhood?

For me it's different from most people because I was diagnosed so young. I had it before I even went to school.. Back then there weren't insulin pumps. I took one injection in the morning and at night and a short-term injection during meals. I had to test my insulin levels about five times a day. When I was younger I had a controlled diet. I never had sugar or soda.

Q: What's the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes?

Type 1 means you are insulin dependent. It means you don't make any insulin and it usually occurs in children but it doesn't have to. In type 2 you still make insulin but it's not working correctly in the body. Type 2 is more common in older people and those who are overweight.

Q: What causes type 1 diabetes?

If you have the antibody to the insulin producing cells you will get type 1. It's not related how much sugar you eat or how much your weight is. For type 2, there are a lot of kids who are now getting that because of obesity but it's still mostly an adult disease. They call it an epidemic because type 2 shouldn't be happening in kids.

Q: How does Florida Diabetes Camp help children with type 1 diabetes?

The biggest thing is that it allows them to be around other kids with type 1. A lot of these kids haven't met anyone else with type 1. They get to see all the different ways other people deal with it and it allows them to not feel so different.

Q: How does the camp differ from a normal camp?

Top endocrinologists surround the kids for a whole week as well nutritionists. You have all these resources for a whole week, 24 hours a day. Doctors do rounds every night. The kids get to ask doctors questions. We do all the fun stuff other camps do but we immerse kids in research, education and diabetes care.

Editor's note: Volusia Flagler Family YMCA runs Camp Winona. This has been corrected from an earlier version of this story.

<p>It was at a Florida Diabetes Camp where Amy Soileau learned how to test her own insulin levels and met other children living with type 1 diabetes. Now, 35 years later, Soileau reaches out to families and children who also come to the camp each year. </p><p>The Port Orange native was diagnosed with diabetes at 3 years old and started going to the Florida Diabetes Camps in Central Florida at 5. Eventually she graduated to camp counselor and volunteer but it wasn't until last year that the former schoolteacher became the camp's outreach director. </p><p>In that position, Soileau helps local families and children find education, community and support after a type 1 diabetes diagnosis. The 2013 summer camps are held throughout Central Florida, including Volusia Flagler Family YMCA's Camp Winona in DeLeon Springs, and are open to children 6 through 18 with type 1 diabetes. For more information and to apply to the camps, visit Floridadiabetescamp.org. </p><p><b>Q: </b><i>How were you diagnosed with diabetes?</i> </p><p></p><p>I was 3 years old. It was in June right before my fourth birthday. My mom noticed I was drinking a lot and going to be the bathroom a lot. She took me to the pediatrician. I was tested and spent a few days in the hospital. </p><p><b>Q: </b><i>How did having diabetes affect your childhood? </i> </p><p></p><p>For me it's different from most people because I was diagnosed so young. I had it before I even went to school.. Back then there weren't insulin pumps. I took one injection in the morning and at night and a short-term injection during meals. I had to test my insulin levels about five times a day. When I was younger I had a controlled diet. I never had sugar or soda. </p><p><b>Q: </b><i>What's the difference between type 1 and type 2 diabetes? </i> </p><p></p><p>Type 1 means you are insulin dependent. It means you don't make any insulin and it usually occurs in children but it doesn't have to. In type 2 you still make insulin but it's not working correctly in the body. Type 2 is more common in older people and those who are overweight. </p><p><b>Q: </b><i>What causes type 1 diabetes? </i> </p><p></p><p>If you have the antibody to the insulin producing cells you will get type 1. It's not related how much sugar you eat or how much your weight is. For type 2, there are a lot of kids who are now getting that because of obesity but it's still mostly an adult disease. They call it an epidemic because type 2 shouldn't be happening in kids. </p><p><b>Q: </b><i>How does Florida Diabetes Camp help children with type 1 diabetes? </i></p><p></p><p>The biggest thing is that it allows them to be around other kids with type 1. A lot of these kids haven't met anyone else with type 1. They get to see all the different ways other people deal with it and it allows them to not feel so different. </p><p><b>Q: </b><i>How does the camp differ from a normal camp? </i></p><p></p><p>Top endocrinologists surround the kids for a whole week as well nutritionists. You have all these resources for a whole week, 24 hours a day. Doctors do rounds every night. The kids get to ask doctors questions. We do all the fun stuff other camps do but we immerse kids in research, education and diabetes care. </p><p><i>Editor's note: Volusia Flagler Family YMCA runs Camp Winona. This has been corrected from an earlier version of this story. </i></p>